In late March, The US Soccer Federation’s Adult Council announced a four-team amateur cup pitting representatives from UWS (United Women’s Soccer), WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League), USL W-League and the USASA - the three leagues confirmed their participation with statements on their respective websites and all three included the fourth participant in their announcements.

2024 Eastern Conference Champions of the UWS, New England Mutiny
2024 WPSL Champions, California Storm
USLW’s “Best New Organization,” Richmond Ivy
2024 Women’s National Amateur Cup Champions, Pan World Elite out of Utah.

The inaugural tournament has Richard Groff serving as director and has been organized by members of the US Soccer Adult Council. US Women’s National Team legend, Brandi Chastain, has agreed to endorse the cup, which now bears her name and as part of the announcement said, “Women’s soccer in the United States has an incredible foundation built by generations of talented athletes. The Brandi Chastain Cup will provide an essential platform to showcase the country’s top amateur players while further uniting the women’s soccer landscape. I’m honored to support this initiative and can’t wait to see the talent on display.”

According to league sources, the host teams will be responsible for providing live-streams. We confirmed with California Storm Executive Director within the last 24 hours, that the first Semi-Final, originally slated for Saturday, May 24th, has been moved forward to Thursday, May 22nd.

Semi-Final #1: Pan World Elite vs California Storm on Thursday, May 22nd at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT
Semi-Final #2: Richmond Ivy vs New England Mutiny on June 4th at City Stadium in Richmond, VA.

The time, date, and location of the inaugural Brandi Chastain Cup Final will be determined after both Semi-finals are complete. There is a lot of buzz around the leagues involved and here are some quotes taken from their respective websites:

Quotes from Teams and Leagues

“We are excited to represent United Women’s Soccer in the Brandi Chastain Cup. It is fitting that this competition features two of the oldest women’s soccer teams in the history of the United States, the California Storm and the New England Mutiny. We look forward to playing in front of a packed house against a member of the USL ecosystem, Richmond Ivy, whose organization has done a tremendous job in capturing a community.” — Joe Ferrara, New England Mutiny owner

“We are honored to have United Women’s Soccer represented in this first ever inter-league elite competition. The New England Mutiny has a storied history in women’s soccer and along with all of our teams in UWS we are committed to advancing the women’s game in the United States.” — Roberto Aguas, UWS League Founder Roberto Aguas

“The Richmond Ivy are so excited to partner with U.S. Soccer to host a semi-final match of the Brandi Chastain Cup here at City Stadium. Richmond was thrilled to host Brandi and her USWNT teammates on September 20, 1998, in a U.S. Cup match with Brazil in the months before their historic win the following summer at the 1999 World Cup. City Stadium has been a wonderful venue, creating memories for soccer families since 1995 and showcasing some of the United States’ best soccer talent through the last thirty years. We are thrilled to host such an important match as women’s soccer continues to rise and empower young women around the country.” — Rob Ukrop, Richmond Ivy Chairman and CEO

“We are thrilled to be a part of this project with U.S. Soccer. The California Storm has been around since 1995 and we have had hundreds of athletes go on to the pros. This is a great opportunity to show the incredible talent that is in our leagues.” — Jamie Levoy, Executive Director California Storm

“I’m thrilled to see how far the women’s game has come to make the Women’s Amateur Soccer Championship a reality. This is an incredible opportunity to bring state and national league winners together, something that would not happen otherwise. As both commissioner and a team participant, I know the importance of this event. It’s something I’ve been advocating for, and I’m excited to see U.S. Soccer’s involvement. This championship will allow players to showcase their skills, compete at a higher level, and continue to advance the women’s game. It’s also a vital step toward creating a Women’s Open Cup and expanding opportunities for female athletes.” — Kendra Halterman, WPSL Commissioner

- by Josh Duder